Christmas Survey

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Totally love wrapping presents. They definitely look like a five-year old did it, but I still love it.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. Real all the way! But, I pretty much have to have a fake one, b/c of my allergies.
3. When do you put up the tree? Whenever I have time and feel like.
4. When do you take the tree down? Before I have to go back to school. Usually after New Year's.
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but it's so bad for you.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Well, there was there this air brush thing.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Family members that I don't talk to much.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My mom. She's always so happy to get any present.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I've never done this. Probably b/c my mom never did. Mostly, cuz I'm cheap and low on time.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I always, always, always hated getting clothes. PJ's, socks, school clothes. And I could totally tell before I unwrapped them because I shook everything under the tree before Christmas morning.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Home Alone, baby!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Black Friday, if I can, but this year, we're waiting til we get to Texas.
13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably.
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Chocolate
15. Lights on the tree? No. Candles.What am I stupid? Candles stopped being used b/c they were a serious fire hazard. Colored lights, please.
16. Favorite Christmas song? Never ask a musician what their favorite any kind of song is.
17. Do you travel at Christmas or stay home? Unfortunately, we'll be travelling, but at least we'll be in Texas for a long time.
18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes
19. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel. We've had the same one for the Styron tree since I can remember.
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? We go to, like, three Christmases, which is awesome, but it always varies. However, I always want to open on Christmas Eve, but when I do, I'm completely sad on Christmas morning. Nothing to look forward to!
21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Yeah, stress, but usually due to a major Christmas concert I have to pull off or finals.
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? Anything Hallmark is pretty fun. My tree is probably always going to be a hot mess. Rarely, did any of our Christmas trees look Martha Stewart. It was all about homemade ornaments, tacky tinsel and Jim and me determing everything.
23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey and dressing. Kinda boring that way. Oh, and chocolate pie.
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Guitar Hero and some tennis shoes.
25. Who is most likely to respond to this? No idea.

GOING CRAZY!

#1 Michelle on Biggest Loser is awesome!

#2 I'm going crazy! I have to make it through Friday. I am 2 papers and 1 presentation away from freedom and Christmas shopping. That's right, people, I have done no Christmas shopping because of school. Also, as you know, I have not updated this blog. Something tells me I won't be updating it much until May 2010 (yeah, I'll have my Master's!).

Anyway, Merry Christmas! We will be out of town from around December 16th to January 6th, so if you don't see us, we're in Texas!

New Job at Ingleside Village Pizza (the new location)

For the past 2.5 months, I have been working at Moe's. It's been honest work, but it's definitely hard to go back to making not much more than you did at 16. The other day, God led me right into a job that is much better for me-more money for the same effort, within walking distance of the Townsend School of Music (Mercer Music Building), groovy atmosphere, that's right, I said groovy. If you haven't already tried the original Ingleside Village Pizza, you really need to. As a pizza connoisseur, my recommendation carries the greatest influence (in my head).

Check it out! And remember, I'm at the :
* New Location * 1635 Montpelier Ave. Macon, GA 478-743-4113
Monday-Closed (so awesome!)
Tuesday-Saturday 11-9
Sunday-5-9
http://www.inglesidevillagepizza.com/

First Day of School

Hi, People,
I know that I didn't post these pictures close enough to August 18th (the actual first day of school), but here they are:


You can't go to school without a cool lunch bag (Dora, HSM and SpongeBob are sooo last year).




But anyway, here I am smiling...actually excited to be going back. Check back with me at midterms:)

Messengers

Do you ever get the feeling that someone's whole day or someone's whole purpose was to meet you and teach you something? That happened today--twice. I was just worrying about something again, being able to handle school, yada yada yada. It's what I do.

I was working at Moe's and the lunch rush was over. I only had one hour 'til quittin' time. This nice young lady comes into the store by herself. She doesn't look or act sophisticated, but is, in a word, meek. Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. I already like her. I let her know that I was ready to make her order, and, with the first kind words out of her mouth, I realize that her I.Q. can be no more than 60 (think about the functioning level of Forrest Gump). She asks me more questions than most customers, but, thankfully, we are slow, so I can take my time with her. She reminds me of my favorite students and all the special ed kids my mother has taught over the years.

I was oddly proud of her, asking me questions, telling me exactly what she wanted, answering questions appropriately and giving me the correct amount of change. I know someone out there reading this is thinking, "So what? I do that every day." However, I know from my teaching experience that it took her 4 or more years in high school to perform this type of transaction with no one's help. I think it was just God's way of saying that I can overcome my obstacles, too. That I can balance whatever comes my way.

Now, the next customer comes in, but not before one of my co-workers says, "There's another homeless guy coming in to beg for food." It actually happens frequently around the Moe's/Wal-Mart area. Apparently, there's a little homeless community in a nearby woodsy place. He is dirty, unshaven and nurses a bad leg. He is sunburned, but has bright, hopeful eyes. I couldn't understand half of what he said (in need of major dental work, also), but all he wanted was a cup of ice. The manager on duty told him where the ice was. A kind customer realized how badly off the man was and paid for his food. I was glad she did. He was so excited and grateful. We should all be the same way. It made me happy to see that compassion is alive and well.
Matthew 25: 35-36 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

I had just been thinking about some college expenses (again, worrying needlessly) and this man doesn't even have food. He's not even begging, just wants some water. Tells me he sells cans for money. Entirely possible that he's not mentally sound, as many homeless people aren't (but who is these days :) He wasn't worried about his next meal. You can make all kinds of speculations (he was begging, he's choosing to be homeless, he's trouble), but I just feel blessed that I have food every day and great health care (thank you, TriCare). I live in a house, and I'm about to pursue my 2nd degree, something only 25% of Americans have, much less other countries.
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

These two people reminded me that God is going to take care of me like He has all along. I have the gifts and resources AND support that I need in order to fulfill my dreams. I am truly blessed.

Cat Post

Brian here. Ok. It's fairly obvious that I'm a bit enthusiastic when it come to our cats. Ok. Maybe a lot. But since there's not much else to do around here, I get to sit and watch the boys and take a gazillion pictures of them. I figured I would share some of these with you. The first couple is a continuation of our "Cats in Bags"

First, we have the grocery bags from our last trip to the store:

Kenobi's found his resting spot

While Obi's getting his daily fiber









It's a good thing we brought several home




Next we have my duffel bag:




Kenobi kept trying to catch Obi's tail










Up until he got underneath it, which Obi couldn't figure out




And more recently, we have the take home bag from Olive Garden:





Obi really liked this bag









So much that he didn't want to share







But Kenobi eventually won




And now for another series I like to call "Weird But Cute Positions"
(It's gonna be a long post)













We love this one

































Kenobi and Obi both wanted to sleep with me on the couch the other day






It didn't last very long




Ok. I'm getting cries of enough from some people, so I only have two more things.
First a picture of the boys' sleeping in their new bed:








And last is a funny video. Let's just call it "Spin the Cat"

We don't know if they like it or are just dizzy, but they don't move afterwards, and they keep laying down in that spot. So you decide. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Bye!

Surgery

Brian here. Just wanted to thank everyone for their prayers over me and Jeanette. As most of you know, I had shoulder surgery yesterday. Everything went better than expected. They removed a bone spur, and I should recover fairly quickly. On a side note, my parents and grandmother came over (from Texas) to see me. They are staying the weekend, and will be headed back on Monday. It's really nice to have them here. Once again, thank you everybody, and I look forward to seeing you at church.